About 1000 city secondary school pupils converged on Kaikorai Valley College to gain information about potential careers from tertiary providers, the military, the aviation industry and local businesses.
While much of the information was gleaned from discussions with those already in the profession, some of the information came from hands-on experiences, such as tree climbing using ropes and harnesses with Otago Polytechnic arboriculture students, and operating an earth mover on a realistic simulator at the Downer NZ Ltd exhibit.
Kaikorai Valley College careers adviser Judith Shields said the purpose of the expo was to connect pupils with businesses and training providers, to let young people know what options were available and what employers were looking for in a potential employee.
"It helps students sift and sort their ideas on future careers," she said.
Following the termination of the Coca-Cola Careers Expo in 2010, Mrs Shields was determined pupils would continue to experience the opportunities previously provided by the event.
So she organised her own expo at Kaikorai Valley College in 2011, and this year the event grew to include 34 exhibitors and has been open to all Dunedin schools.
"The number of stalls show there certainly seems to be more career opportunities out there.
"The connections between jobs and young people are better," she said.
